Ill health makes Plaid leader quit

Colleagues and political opponents yesterday paid tribute to the Plaid Cymru leader Dafydd Wigley after he decided to stand down as president of the party he steered to stunning success in last year's national assembly elections in Wales.

The long serving Caernarfon MP, who received treatment for a heart condition last Christmas, is giving up the post on medical advice.

He has also decided to step down as leader of the 17-strong group in the assembly where Plaid Cymru forms the main opposition to the minority Labour administration. He will remain in the post until the new party president has been elected in July.

Party members, who had hoped to persuade Mr Wigley to consider alternative ways of easing the burden on his health, accepted his decision reluctantly following an emotional meeting in Llandudno yesterday.

Mr Wigley, 57, was elected MP for Caernarfon in February 1974 and has been president of the party since 1991.

During his presidency the party's support at the polls has soared from 8% to 30% last May when Plaid Cymru snatched several traditional Labour heartland constituencies in the assembly elections.

Plaid Cymru chairman Marc Phillips said the party's debt to Mr Wigley was incalculable. He said there could scarcely be another party that had benefited as much from the vision and energy of one man.

Describing the Plaid Cymru leader as a politician for whom he had the utmost respect the first secretary, Rhodri Morgan, said Mr Wigley had made a major contribution to Welsh politics.

"I am sure he will continue to play a constructive part in the devolution story."

The former Welsh secretary, Ron Davies, who worked closely with Mr Wigley during the referendum campaign that led to devolution, said the Plaid Cymru leader had done much to bring status and credibility to the assembly.

"He brought a degree of authority to his group and led his party to a historic high water mark.

His contribution has been very significant. He is highly regarded in Wales and very well respected across the party politcal divide."

Nominations to replace Mr Wigley as president have to be submitted by June 30 and voting will take place on the basis of one member one vote at branch meetings between July 20 and 30.

Among the front runners to replace him will be Ieuan Wyn Jones the Ynys Mon MP who led Plaid Cymru in the assembly while Mr Wigley was convalescing after Christmas.